PENTAGON—United States Army announced that it will work with Microsoft on the production phase of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program as it moves from rapid prototyping to production and rapid fielding.
The IVAS headset, based on HoloLens and augmented by Microsoft Azure cloud services, delivers a platform that will keep Soldiers safer and make them more effective. The program delivers enhanced situational awareness, enabling information sharing and decision-making in a variety of scenarios.
Microsoft has worked closely with the U.S. Army over the past two years, and together pioneered Soldier Centered Design to enable rapid prototyping for a product to provide Soldiers with the tools and capabilities necessary to achieve their mission.
Microsoft welcomes this new and innovative partnership with the U.S. Army, and are grateful for their continued trust in transitioning IVAS from rapid prototyping to rapid fielding. The firm announced they look forward to building on this successful partnership with the men and women of the U.S. Army Close Combat Force.
Reports by Bloomberg and CNBC point to an Army deal close to $22 billion in value.
Sources/photos: by Alex Kipman, Microsoft/BDPA-DC —Top/Cover photo: BDPA at the Microsoft Store, Pentagon City
ARLINGTON, VA — The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® today announced CES 2021® — January 6-9, 2021 — will be an all-digital experience connecting exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world. The new format will allow participants to hear from technology innovators, see cutting-edge technologies and the latest product launches, and engage with global brands and startups from around the world.
“Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it’s just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “Technology helps us all work, learn and connect during the pandemic — and that innovation will also help us reimagine CES 2021 and bring together the tech community in a meaningful way. By shifting to an all-digital platform for 2021, we can deliver a unique experience that helps our exhibitors connect with existing and new audiences.”
CES 2021 will be a new immersive experience, where attendees will have a front row seat to discover and see the latest technology. This highly personalized experience will bring a global event to the comfort and safety of your home or office.
For over 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation. CTA’s goal for CES 2021 is to provide an engaging platform for companies large and small to launch products, build brands and form partnerships, while prioritizing health and safety. Members of the tech community thrive by coming together, sharing ideas and introducing products that will shape our future.
Mark your calendars for the first week in January and be on the lookout for more exciting news about CES 2021. CES plans to return to Las Vegas for CES 2022, combining the best elements of a physical and digital show.
Industry Legends and ‘Hidden Figure$’ welcome America’s next generation of coders to community trade associations
WASHINGTON (bdpatoday) – This year’s annual Community & Technology Awards gala, co-hosted by the District of Columbia’s Small Business Development Center (DC SBDC), celebrated a 40-year milestone reached by National BDPA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter (BDPA-DC).
(L-R) Norman Mays, Founder, BDPA Washington with Carl Brown, Executive Director, DC SBDC.
Ceremonies were held at Howard University in the Armour J. Blackburn Center. DC SBDC is a co-operative program hosted by Howard University in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Dr. Marvin Carroll (center), President & CEO of Tec-Masters, Inc. and Howard University alumnus (BSEE ’58) greets new student members and BDPA-DC IT Showcase participants.
National BDPA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter Lifetime Achievement Awards
Ms. Andrea Roane, 2018 BDPA-DC Lifetime Achievement Award
Mr. Walter B. Sanderson, III, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award
Victor S. Gavin, 2018 Community & Technology Lifetime Achievement Awards
Recipients (L-R) for 2018 are:
Retired WUSA-TV newswoman Andrea Roane, TEGNA
Walter B. Sanderson, III, Vice President, Human Resources, SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Victor S. Gavin, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and retired SES, Department of the Navy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information Operations and Space (DASN C4I/IO/Space)
BDPA Washington, D.C. President’s Awards Recipients (L-R) for 2018 are:
Jaquan Thorne, H.O.P.E. Project DMV
Sonya Davis, H.O.P.E. Project DMV
Eugene Neal, H.O.P.E. Project DMV
Robert M. Stewart, H.O.P.E. Project DMV
BDPA Washington, D.C. Community & Technology Awards
Recipients (above left to right) for 2018 are:
2018 President’s Award for Community Service
Maurita Coley Flippin, Esq.
President & CEO, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council
2018 Entrepreneur of the Year
Joseph Carter
President & CEO, R&K Cyber Solutions LLC and Founder of Lenvio, Inc.
2018 Industry Sponsor of the Year General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)
CEO’s and graduates from the Department of Defense’s Mentor Protégé Program attended to support new student members, Interns from the National Capital Region, and welcome Jr. Developers into industry’s next generation. The Honorary Chairman for this year’s special event was Antwanye Ford (left), President & CEO of Enlightened, Inc. an award-winning, HUBZone certified, Information Technology (IT) and Management Consulting firm.
Dr. Margaret Wood (right), President & CEO of WOOD Consulting Services, Inc., an award-winning Inc. 5000 Government Services firm, provided the gala’s Welcome Keynote address from Industry. Tec-Masters, Inc., Dr. Marvin Carroll, President & CEO and Howard University alumnus (BSEE ’58), sponsored the Award Gala’s Industry reception.
Author and award-winning journalist Jesse J. Holland, who wrote “The Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?” commissioned by Marvel Entertainment for the hit film, was the association’s Industry Keynote Speaker for the 40th Anniversary Community & Technology Awards Gala. Gala attendees received autograph copies of his best-selling book.
Holland (left, with BDPA-DC Founder Norman Mays) also is the author of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Finn’s Story” and “The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House”; the latter was honored at the Independent Publisher Book Awards and by Smithsonian.com. He is also a race and ethnicity writer for The Associated Press as well as a former White House, Supreme Court, and congressional reporter.
Nationally, BDPA is one of the largest technology-inclusion community trade associations featuring data and computer sciences, cybersecurity, and STEM professionals. National BDPA’s Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter (BDPADC) was Chartered in 1978 in the District of Columbia. BDPADC supports National BDPA’s mission, provides community advocacy in support of legislative affairs, and publishes bdpatoday (ISSN 1946-1429) for local BDPA Chapters, regional STEM organizations, and global mission-partners.
For more information about National BDPA, community programs across the nation’s 40 BDPA chapters, and career development activities within the National Capital Region, visit → BDPADC.org.
(L-R) Keith Scott, BDPA-DC Cyber Programs; Perry Carter, bdpatoday; Kia Silver-Hodge, BDPA-DC Corporate Relations Executive; and Jesse J. Holland, Award-winning journalist, Marvel’s author of “Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?” and Keynote Presenter.
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Contributors:
Enid Doggett, INSPR Media and Kia Silver-Hodge, BDPA Washington
Photographers/Videographers:
Evan J. Carter, Patricia McDougall, and Catherine Williamson
Join Mission-Partners and BDPA Members during BDPA-DC’s Holiday Soirée at Samsung, Saturday, December 8, 2018. In 2018, Samsung Electronics America and BDPA Washington reached 40-year milestones. Mr. Terry Halvorsen, EVP and CIO of the mobile IT and mobile B2B group at Samsung Electronics America and BDPA-DC’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, will keynote this year’s 40th Anniversary event!
MENLO PARK, CA —Last year, Oculus helped launch the world’s first VR esports league, including the first ever Echo Arena North American Regionals at OC4 and a global livestream of the Finals from IEM Katowice. Oculus announced this week a brand-new look and expanded lineup for VR League—and the kick-off of Season 2 with ESL!
VR League Season 2 features a prize pool in excess of $220,000 USD, a more flexible tournament system, and up to seven participating titles in the five-month competitive period—all leading up to the climactic grand finale at Oculus Connect 5!
Oculus hit the ground running on May 18, with a month of competitive urban spell-casting in The Unspoken, followed by a month of fast-paced parkour racing in Sprint Vector beginning June 4. An additional two titles with prized competition will be unveiled on ESL Play during the months of July and August, plus additional action as three new games make their first foray into esports.
Echo Arena returns on May 20 with the start of a four-week competition. Last year, this fast-paced zero-g title brought out 258 players across 98 teams worldwide, and we’re excited to build upon that initial success as we continue to grow the community. Later this year, we’ll partner with Ready At Dawn to bring Echo Combat to VR League with a ladder-style competition of its own.
“Oculus is committed to fostering long-term growth of the VR esports ecosystem, and Season 2—with its new format and additional games—is an amazing next step on this exciting journey,” says Oculus Head of Esports, Christopher K. McKelvy.
To that end, VR League will also support VR Master League and the grassroots community that’s developed around Dante Buckley’s mil-sim success story with an Onward Invitational event from June 16 – 17. One of three live events to be held at the ESL UK Studios, the Onward Invitational will also benefit Stack Up, a charity that supports US and Allied veterans through gaming.
VR esports represent an exciting and promising area of growth for both the VR industry and the community it supports, and we’re proud to partner with ESL to help change the game. Visit vr.eslgaming.com for more information, and follow VR League on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates.
CEO’s and graduates from the Department of Defense’s Mentor Protégé Program attended to support new student members, Interns from the National Capital Region, and welcome Jr. Developers into industry’s next generation. The Honorary Chairman for this year’s special event was Antwanye Ford (left), President & CEO of Enlightened, Inc. an award-winning, HUBZone certified, Information Technology (IT) and Management Consulting firm.
Dr. Margaret Wood (right), President & CEO of WOOD Consulting Services, Inc., an award-winning Inc. 5000 Government Services firm, provided the gala’s Welcome Keynote address from Industry. Tec-Masters, Inc., Dr. Marvin Carroll, President & CEO and Howard University alumnus (BSEE ’58), sponsored the Award Gala’s Industry reception.
